Diabetes UK says 52 areas in England have decided not to allow the Libre to be made available. There are currently 38 clinical commissioning groups across England and nine health boards in Scotland which are reviewing their policies.

The regional discrepancies mean that areas close by, controlled by different health decision makers, vary on whether the technology is available. At the moment people in Sheffield have access, but not in nearby Wakefield. Again, the same is happening in the Midlands with Birmingham not offering the device, while Wolverhampton is.

Helen Dickens, assistant director of campaigns and mobilisation at Diabetes UK, said: "People�s health should not depend on an unfair postcode lottery. Everyone should be able to access the care and treatments necessary to safely manage their condition.

"Because Flash makes it easier to monitor and better control blood sugar levels, it improves lives, can save money, and reduces the risk of serious diabetes-related complications such as amputations and blindness.

"The NHS agreed to provide access in November, but people with diabetes have already been waiting for too long. Every area should now have a policy providing access to Flash for free on prescription, so that everyone who can benefit from it, will."

Diabetes UK has been campaigning to make access to the technology more fair, and type 1 diabetes and technology charities JDRF and INPUT are also supporting the campaign.